diff --git a/gns3server/modules/iou/ioucon.py b/gns3server/modules/iou/ioucon.py
index a30c66e9..9fda1717 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/iou/ioucon.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/iou/ioucon.py
@@ -411,8 +411,11 @@ class IOU(Router):
                 log.debug("Waiting to connect to {}".format(self.ttyS))
                 time.sleep(RETRY_DELAY)
             except Exception as e:
-                raise NetioError("Couldn't connect to socket {}: {}"
-                                 .format(self.ttyS, e))
+                if e.errno == 111:  # connection refused
+                    log.debug("Waiting to connect to {}".format(self.ttyS))
+                    time.sleep(RETRY_DELAY)
+                else:
+                    raise NetioError("Couldn't connect to socket {}: {}".format(self.ttyS, e))
             else:
                 break